More Upcoming Texas Festivals

Texas Festivals

The Texas Festival Scene

There are lots of reasons why you shouldn’t mess with Texas, and the Texas festival scene is one of them. The Lone Star State’s festival scene is as far and wide as the Llano Estacado, though considerably more exciting and less flat. In Texas, everything's bigger, and folks around here certainly know how to go big or go home when it comes to festivals. Texas boasts the city of Austin as the Live Music Capital of the World, so you know their music festivals won’t disappoint. Of course you’ll find festivals scaled to the likes of Austin City Limits, but you’ll also find niche and local festivals too. Keep Austin Weird and check out some of those lesser-known fests around the city. You never know what you might find.

But don’t forget the rest of Texas! Venture outside of Austin and you’ll find a number of Texas festivals you don’t want to miss. From rodeo shows to country music festivals, this southern state has a little bit of everything and plenty to choose from. But if you find it hard to decide, we’ve narrowed it down to the best Texas festivals to add to your bucket list.

South by Southwest (SXSW) began in 1987 as a small, independent musical showcase for up-and-coming artists and prospective record labels, and has now burgeoned into a festival that spans over the course of nearly two weeks. Every year in March, SXSW takes over the entire city of Austin—literally—to celebrate music, film, and tech. Instead of designated festival grounds, SXSW hosts musical performances at dozens of small venues and businesses throughout the city. Meanwhile, the SXSW Film Conference makes SXSW one of the best film festivals in the US with its panels, workshops, and celebration of talented filmmakers of all skill- levels. SXSW Interactive, a breeding ground for new ideas and technology, celebrates all things tech and feels right at home here in Austin, the Silicon Valley Hills of Texas.

As the Live Music Capital of the World, it’s no surprise that Austin, Texas, is home to one of the best music festivals in the country: Austin City Limits (ACL). Each year, ACL takes over the 351 acres of Zilker Park for its sold-out event. In the past, headliners like Jay-Z, Radiohead, Drake, Deadmau5, Calvin Harris, and Mumford & Sons have performed, drawing in tens of thousands of people. Despite big-name acts in the lineup, ACL maintains a laid-back vibe that’s true to its roots. Packing in almost everything, from rock to hip-hop, and even EDM, the music at ACL surely won’t disappoint. Not to mention, with a food truck scene like Austin’s, you can expect to find some good eats to fuel your fun.

Believe it or not, Texas is home to the largest Renaissance fair in the US. The Texas Renaissance Festival amasses a crowd of over half a million people each year on its fair grounds in the small town of Todd Mission. Over the course of nine differently-themed weekends, nearly a thousand costumed performers and actors dazzle and delight across the festival’s 25 stages and throughout the fairgrounds. Revelers take part in the festivities as well, coming in costumes and getting into character. Expect jousting and dancing, medieval trades like candle-making and forging armor, and performances like the Birds of Prey Show and the Fire Whip Show. So come one, come all! Let’s drink and be merry!

Everything’s bigger in Texas, and the State Fair is no exception. Nearly 3 million people flock to Dallas to attend the State Fair of Texas every year for its live music, exhibitions, attractions, and delicious food. Over the course of 24 days, attendees can enjoy various carnival rides, indulge in deep fried Oreos, and check out cool auto shows. Great fun can be had by everyone, so bring the whole family! Plus, this Texas festival will welcome you with the utmost Southern hospitality. Big Tex, the 55-foot official greeter and icon of the State Fair of Texas, welcomes visitors from all over with a hearty, “Howdy, folks!”

While most transformational festivals seem to sprout out in the West Coast, Euphoria Music & Camping Festival brings those counterculture vibes right into the heart of Texas. Held every year at Carson Creek Ranch in Austin, Euphoria provides a weekend of music, camping, workshops, and yoga. Spend your days getting Zen or learning about permaculture at one of the many workshops. Then, when the sun goes down, get ready to go all night. Euphoria brings in acts like Pretty Lights, Bassnectar, Above & Beyond, Juicy J, Eric Prydz, Wiz Khalifa, Young Thug, and more. Growing from a small, boutique and local festival, Euphoria now attracts over tens of thousands for its four-day festival.

What the DoLab is for Coachella is like what Art Outside is for Euphoria. This counterculture festival sets up shop as the Art Outside Village at Euphoria but also has its own weekend of festivities in Rockdale, Texas, filled with yoga and meditation, workshops and ceremonies, incredible art and creative expression, and of course, great music. While over 50,000 people attend Euphoria, Art Outside is an intimate gathering of only a couple thousand people. But that doesn’t mean there’s not a lot to do! No matter where you look, there are beautiful art installations, artists painting by a stage and feeling the groove, and mesmerizing fire dancers. The artistically nurturing space of this festival allows for the creative energy to flow freely, whether it’s through art, dance, or even just simply radical self-expression. Express yourself at Art Outside.

Once a month, local radio station KGSR Radio Austin hosts a series of free summer concerts known as Blues on the Green in Austin’s very own Zilker Park. This hot, local festival brings in thousands of attendees as far as the eye can see, filling this one-stage fest to the brim. Friends and family bring out lawn chairs, lay out their picnic blankets with some wine and cheese, and crack open a few cold ones. Not to mention, with Austin’s unrivaled food truck scene, you can count on some incredible food vendors to serve you up plates full of deliciousness!

Well, there you have it—the top Texas festivals you don’t want to miss. So what are you waiting for? Grab your partner and giddy up! There are lots of Texas festivals to explore.